Automatic boiler feed



J. 8. LEE. AUTOMATIC BOILER FEED.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. I920.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

Ill/VENTOR rfozz'n' JLEE A TTOH/VEYS UNETE- STATES JOHN S. LEE, OF NEWTON, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC BOILER FEED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

Application filed November 18, 1920. Serial No. 424,925.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN S. LEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newton, county of Jasper, State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Boiler Feed, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionv My invention relates to feeding mecha nism for supplying water to boilers while in action my more particular purpose being to render the feed entirely automatic, the mechanism being so constructed and arranged as to control with great nicety the amount of water contained in the boiler.

My invention further contemplates a number of specific improvements in the structure of automatic boiler feeding mechanism, for the purpose of simplifying the device and of rendering the various parts readily accessible.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures.

Figure 1 is a substantially central vertical section through my improved automatic boiler feed.

Figure 2 is a detail, being a plan view of packing ring forming a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a stop plate forming a part of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

A boiler is shown at 4 and connected with it is a float chamber 5. A pump cylinder is shown at 6 and is provided with a portion 6 of reduced diameter. The pump cylinder and parts immediately'associated therewith are supported by a trap casing 7 A pipe 8 (shown as partly broken away) extends from the lower portion of the pump cylinder to the boiler, and is used for supplying the feed water thereinto. A steam pipe 9 (shown as broken away) leads from the boiler to the lower portion of the trap casing.

A pipe 10 is connected with the trap casing, at a point above the middle thereof as indicated in Figure 1. Connected with the pipe 10 are two other pipes 11 and 12 forming essentially branches of the pipe 10 and used for supplying it with water. The branches. 11, 12 may be connected respectively with any available source of fresh water or with a supply of water in a steam heating plant trap, as desired.

oosely mounted within the float chamber 5 IS a float 13. The bottom of the valve chamber 5 is connected with the boileribya pipe 14, and in order to equalize the pressure in the valve chamber and boiler, the chamber is connected to the boiler by the pipe 143. The float 13 carries a steam valve 15, the latter being connected by a pipe 16 with the boiler 4. The valve 15 is also connected by a pipe 17 with the pump cylinder 6, and terminates therein so as to form a steam inlet port 1.8. The pump cylinder 6 is provided with an exhaust port19.

The pump cylinder is provided with two cylindrical compartments 20, 21, the compartment 21 being of lesser diameter than the compartment 20 as may be understood from Figure 1. A piston 22 provided with a packing ring 23 is slidably mounted within the compartment 20 and is' provided witha portion 24: serving as a plunger and extend.- ing into the compartment 21. The piston 22 is further provided with an annular space 25, adapted to hold a small volume of air, and co-acting with a vent hole 26 in they pump cylinder so as to enable the parts to serve practically as a dashpot. The plunger 24 is provided with a clearance hole 27 disposed approximately in the center of the upper portion of the plunger. A stop plate 28 of the form shown more particularly in Figure 3 is provided with bolt holes 29 through which extend bolts 30, so as to hold the stop plate firmly in position upon the piston 22. The stop plate 28 is provided with a. slot 31 merging into an opening 34:, as shown more particularly in Figure 3. Extending through the slot 32 is a tappet rod 32 provided with a head 33. By virtue of the opening 34. being somewhat larger thanthe slot 32, the head 33 may be inserted through the stop plate while the latter is in position.

Located within the upper portion of the pump cylinder is a spider 35 of the form shown more provided with lugs 36 carrying bolts 37. These bolts are adjustable by hand, and bear against leaf springs 38, the latter having each substantially the form of a bow and hearing against the inner surface of the pis particularly in Figure 2, and 1 the top of v ton ring 39as shown more particularly in Figure 2. The tappet. rod 32 extends through the spider and is provided with a portion of enlarged diameter serving as a guide pin. This guide pinextends into a guide socket 41 carried upon the head 21 with which the pump cylinder 6 is provided. The parts just described are so proportioned and arranged that wl'ienev-er the plunger 24 descends as hereinafter described, the stop plate strikes the head 33 and causes the tappet rod 32 to pull the spider 35 and piston ring 39 downwardly a short distance. The trap casing 7 is provided with a casing head. 42, the latter being provided with twojcompartments 43, 44. A check valve controls communication be tween the compartment 43 and the pipe 8 leading to the boiler, and acheck valve 46 controls communication. between the compartments 44 and 43. 1

Located centrally within the trap casing 7 and supportedby the casing head 42, so

to communicate with the compartment 44, is a tube 48. This tube extends nearly to the bottom of the trap casing Tand into a valve sleeve 49. This valve sleeve is provided with openings 50, in this instance tour in number. The lower portion of the valve sleeve 49 is formed into a valve A, pipe 52 leads from the valve 51 up to the casing head 42 through which it extends. The valve 51 is adjacent its lower end provided with a vent passage 53 having substantially an L shape, and communicating at all times with the vent opening 54. The valve and parts immediately adjacent thereto are so arranged that when the valve 51 is in its lowermost position it establishes connnunt cat-ion from the steam pipe 9 to the pipebZ, and when lifted above its lowermost position cuts off such communication. The valve 51 is rigidly connected with a float 55 and is controllable by vertical movement of this float.

, The water inlet 1.0 and its branches 11, 12 are provided with check valves 56, 57,58.

When the float 55 and valve 51 are in their lowermost positions, the holes 50 are open so that communication is established from the interior of the lloat up to the tube 48. Vhen, however, the float and valve 51 are raised into their highest positions, the holes 51 are closed by the lower end ofthe tube 48, which seats itself within the bottom of the sleeve 49, after the manner of the valve.

The valve 51 is normally in its lowermost position as indicated in Figure 1. \V hen said valveoccupies this position, live steam from the boiler passes through the pipes f) and 52 and enters the trap casing 7, so that normally this trap casing; contains steam under pressure.

The normal position of the float is the between the pipes 16 and 17,

pressure upon the top of the one indicated in Figure 1. This float is raised occasionally, as hereinafter described. The plunger 24 and the movable parts immediately associated therewith are normally idle, and in their uppermostpositions as shown, being supported by pressure of water within the compartment 21 as hereinafter described. i

The operation of my device is astollovrs: I will assume that the trap casing 7 is empty, or practically empty, and that the float 55 is in itsuppermost position. Such being the case,the am 51 is in its inopermost position and for the most part no steam can enter from the boiler through the pipe 9. Such being the case watertrom the pipe 10 flows freely ,intothe trap casing 7,. The

level of the waterin the trap casing rises higher and higher ,and finally the float is filled with water. Thisfloat thereupon swings to the bottom and causes the valve 51 to assume its lowermost position as in dicated in Figure 1,.this' being its normalposition. as above described. Thus the trap casing 7 isfilled with water, this water has steam pressru'eupon it, and owing to the position of the float 55 and valve 51, the holes 50 areopen. Such being the case, water from within the float 55 is forced from the holes 50 and upwardly through the tube 48 and compartment 44-, past the check valve 46 and into the compartments 48 and 21, this water being under steam pressure raises the plunger 24 into'the position shown in Figures 1, y

The various movable parts just described now remain in the respective positions described for them, solong as. there is no substantial change in the level of. water within the boiler.

Suppose next that the water level in the lf flll el drops down so that'the float 13 descends, into the position indicated jn .Fig1.ue l; or what is practically the same thing, suppose we assume the float to bein its lowermost position. With the float in such position, the valve 15 opens communication the result being that live steam from the boiler passes through these pipes and through the port 18 into the upper portion of the compartment 20. The piston 22 having a greater diameter than. the plunger 24, the aggregate steam piston 22 is necessarily much greater than the aggregate water pressure against the lower end of the plunger 24,,because'thiswater pressure can never exceed the pressure of the steam within the ljioiler, That is to say, the water pressure caused. by. the pressure oil the steam through the pipes ,9. and 52, so that the pressure per square inch of the water upon the lowerend of the plunger 24 can never be above the steam j iressiu'e per square inch in the boiler. Yet the area of the p ston 22 is greater than the area of the lower end of the plunger 24, so that the steam pressure upon the top of the piston mustexceed the water pressure within the compartment 21. As a result of the difference in pressure, therefore, the piston 22 is driven downwardly, the volume of air within the compartment 20 being expelled through the vent hole 26 and the descent of the piston being without violence because of these parts acting as a dashpot. The descent of the plunger st forces the water out of the compartment 21, past the valve a5, and through the pipe 8 into the boiler. The descent of the plunger, by causing the stop plate 28 to strike the head 33, as above described, pulls down the spider 35 and piston ring 39 a short distance. Thus the piston ring 39 moves directly againstthe port 18 so as to close the same, and in doing-this it clears the port 19. Thus live steam from the boiler is cut off from entering the pump cylinder, and the steam already within the cylinder makes its escape through the exhaust port 19. The downward pressure of the steam upon the piston. 22 being thus relieved, the upward pressure of water, rising in the compartment 21, raises the plunger 24 and piston ring 22, so as to lift the piston ring 39 and spider 35 back into their respective normal positions, as indicated at top of Figure 1. The upward movement of the piston ring 39 opens the port 18 and closes the exhaust port 19, so that the steam is automatically turned into the top of the pump cylinder. Thus the piston 22 again descends and causes the plunger 24 to make another stroke. Successive strokes are thus repeated and suflicientfeed water is pumped into the boiler to raise the level of the water therein. This level being raised sufficiently, the float 18 rises and causes the valve 13 to close communication between the steam pipe 16, 17, thus cutting off the flow of live steam into the pump cylinder.

Owing to the size of the trap casing '7, it is not emptied with each filling of the boiler. The result is that the level of water within the trap casing may drop down gradually as the boiler fillings are repeatedly made, until the float 55 becomes practically empty. This done, the float 55 rises. cuts off live steam from the boiler through the pipe 9, and this vents the pipe 52 through the passage 53. the result being that water can now flow freely into the trap casing through the pipe 10, as described above.

Generally speaking therefore, the pump, under control of the float valve 13, automatically causes this work whenever the water level within the boiler drops below a predetermined limit, and automatically stops working when the level of water within the boiler is raised to a suitable degree.

Also the supply of steam into the Steam trap 7 is occasionally cut ofl, the result being that water flows into the trap casing '1" through the pipe 10 until the trap casing is approximately full. This done the steam is automatically turned on and the parts assume their normal condition.

I do not limit myself to the precise mechanism above shown and described, as variations therefrom may be made without departing from. my invention, the scope of which is commensurate with my claims.

laying thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. An automatic boiler feed comprising a trap casing, a float mounted therein, mechanism controllable by the position of said float for admitting water into said trap casing, a pump located between said trap casing and the boiler for forcing water into the boiler, steam connections from the boiler to said pump for enabling said pump to be actuated by steam, a valve connected with said steam connections for controlling the flow of steam through said steam connections, and afloat connected with the boiler and controllable by the level of water there in, said float being connected with said valve for the purpose of actuating the same.

2. In an automatic boiler feed, the combination of a trap casing for holding water, steam connections for normally maintaining said water under pressure, a pump cylinder connected with said trap casing for receiving water forced from said trap casing by steam pressure therein, valve mechanism. to prevent the retrogression of said water from said pump cylinder into said trap casing, a plunger movable relatively to said pump cylinder and engaging the water therein for the purpose of forcing said last mentioned water into the boiler, a piston connected with said pump plunger for the purpose of actuating the Same, steam connections from the boiler to the said pump plunger for enabling steam from the boiler to actuate said piston, and means including float mechanism controllable by the water level within the boiler for opening and closing said steam connections. I V

3. In an automatic boiler feed, the combination of a pump cylinder having compartments of different diameters, a piston feeding into one of said compartments, a plunger carried by said piston and fitting into another of said compartments, the cross area of said plunger being less than the area of said piston, means for forcing water into said pumping cylinder and into contact with said plunger therein, valve mechanism to prevent the retrogression of said water, a connection from said pump cylinder to the boiler for enabling the stroke of the plunger to forec water from the pump cylinder into the boiler, and float controlled mechanism for directing live steam from the boiler against said piston tor the purpose: or actuating said piston relatively to said cylinder.

at. In a device of the character described, the combination of a trap casing, a head closing the same, a tube carried by said head and depending therefrom into said trap casing, a valve sleeve encircling the lowerwend of said tube and provided with holes to be opened and closed by the movements of said sleeve relatively to said tube, a valve carried by said valve sleeve for controlling admission of steam into said trap casing for the purpose of: forcing water within said trap caspig' through said holes in said valve sleeve am through Said tube, a pump cylinder connected with said head o'fsaid trap casing so as to receive water forced through said tube and out of said trap casing, means for supplying steam from the boiler to said pump cylinder for the purpose of actuating the same in orderto drive the water from said pump cylinder into the boiler, and float mechanism controllable by the level of water within the boiler for occasionally admitting steam from the boiler into said pump cylinder. r a

5. A. device of the character described comprising a trap casing, means for admitting steam from a boiler thereinto, means r'or admitting Water into said trap casing, 'a pump cylinder connected with said trap casing and so arranged that water may be forced out of: said trap casingby said steam pressure therein, a pump cylinder for receiving said water thus forced. out otsaid trap casing, a pipe for delivering water from said pump cylinder into the boiler, connections for admitting steam from the boiler into said pump cylinder for the purpose of actuating said punger, a valve for controlling said steam connection, and a float connected with said boiler and controllable by the level of- Water therein for opening and closing said valve.

6. A device of the character described comprising a trap casing, a tube located therein for delivering water therefrom, a valve sleeve slidably engaging said tube and provided with holes to be opened and closed by said tube according to the positionof said piston in order said valve sleeve, a float connected with said valve sleeve and adapted to be raised and lowered by thelevel of water within said trap casing, avalve carried by said valve sleeve, a steam pip-e connected with said valve and controllable by movements thereof for thepurpose of occasionally admitting steam into said trap casing, and means for delivering to a boiler the water thus expelled from said trap casing by action of: steam therein.

7. A device of the character described comprising a pump cylinder having two compartments, one of large diameter and the other of small diameter, a piston located within said compartment of large diameter, a plunger connected with said pis ton and extending into said compartment of small diameter, means for forcing water into said compartment of small diameter, connections from said compartment 01": small diameter to the boiler for enabling water to pass from said compartment of small diameter into the boiler actuated by strokes oi said plunger, pipe connections :for admitting live steam from the boiler into said pump cylinder so as to apply steam pressure to to actuate the piston and the cylinder, and tloatunechanism controllable by the level otthe water within the boiler for opening and closing said pipe connections.

8. A device of the character described comprising a pump cylinder having a compartment oi large diameter and a compartment of small diameter, a steam piston slidably mounted Within said compartment of large diameter, a plunger connected with said piston and extending therefrom into said compartment of small diameter, a stop plate carried by said piston, a tappet rod extending loosely through said stop plate and so arranged that said piston and plunger may travel a predetermined distance before actuating said tappet rod, valve mechanism connected with said tappet rod and movable thereby, and steam connections controllable by said valve mechanism and connected with the boiler for admitting steam into said pump cylinder.

JOHN S. LEE. 

